Our Ocean of Islands opened at the New Zealand Maritime Museum on 15 August 2026, bringing together 24 Moana Oceania island nations in the first Indigenous-led exhibition of its kind.
Developed over three years with Lagi-Maama Academy and Consultancy, the exhibition unites Tangata Whenua, all 17 island nations with diaspora communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, and six communities
from across the wider region. Contributors from each nation chose the stories, cultural practices, artefacts and languages they wanted to share, creating an exhibition by communities, for communities.
Visitors will explore the histories, cultures and connections of Moana Oceania through highlights including 3,000-year-old Vanuatu pottery, Kiribati works on the significance of sharks, dolphin teeth currency from the Solomon Islands, and ancestral navigation practices.
Co-curators Toluma’anave Barbara Makuati-Afitu and Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai say the exhibition gives Moana Oceania communities the opportunity to tell their own stories, celebrating both their distinct identities and shared connections. The exhibition runs for 18 months and will be accompanied by public programmes, including opening weekend panel discussions, workshops and family activities.
| OUR OCEAN OF ISLANDS |
| WHERE: New Zealand Maritime Museum, corner of Quay and Hobson Streets, Viaduct Harbour |
| WHEN: Exhibition opens 15 August and runs for 18 months |
| WHERE TO FIND MORE INFO: www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/exhibitions/our-ocean-of-islands |
